No shyness: here are nude beaches

Let’s face it, nude beaches are a major roll of the dice. Most of the time they don’t live up to the fantasy, which stars smoking-hot babes and male Calvin Klein models. But there are a few gems out there. From San Diego to Majorca, Spain, these 11 sandy stretches are worth stripping down for (just don’t forget the sunscreen).

Black Sand Beach, San Diego

Okay, so maybe the U.S. isn’t the first choice for the naturalist set. Blame it on our Puritan forefathers. Still, there are a few worthy spots where beachgoers can hang ten while they let it all hang out. San Diego’s Black Beach, just north of popular scuba diving spot La Jolla Shores, is also one of the area’s best surfing breaks thanks to an underwater canyon that sends waves barreling toward the coastline. Don’t be surprised if you see a troupe of longboarders sporting nothing but a rash guard.

Plage de Tahiti, St. Tropez, France

This legendary swath helped usher in nude beach glam during the 1960s, when sex symbols like Brigitte Bardot made going topless en vogue. It’s still the place to go for celebs looking to shed layers and get their bronzed bodies in the tabloids (most often after a breakup).

Valalta, Croatia

Volleyball, soccer, bocce, mini-golf, the nude campground at Valalta, a legendary resort area near the vineyards in Rovinj, is a haven for European exhibitionists who have been coming here since the 1960s. Where else can you catch a boat in a nude marina, watch the sunset over the Adriatic, and wake up to a complimentary breakfast buffet?

Samurai Beach, Australia

Every November, Aussies ditch their budgy smugglers for the Nude Olympics at this spot near Tomaree National Park in New South Wales that’s a favorite among local nudist colonies. If bare-skinned volleyball and tug of war are a little too free-flowing for you, the Nude Carnival in February offers tamer activities like body painting. And there’s always the Rosco Club, a naturalist playground for groups looking to take a “nakation.”

Praia do Pinho, Balneário Camboriú, Brazil

Admit it, the thought of traipsing around a sun-kissed beach with gorgeous Brazilians just north of Florianopolis has a certain appeal. Be warned, though: This is not the place for trigger-shy strippers. Nudity is mandatory. And sorry, fellas, but you can’t go solo; all dudes must be accompanied by a girl. So find a lady friend and book one of the oceanfront cabins, and do your best not to ogle the other pretty things.

Red Beach, Crete, Greece

A 30-minute hike from Matala on the south coast of Greece’s largest island, Red Beach is known for its secluded location and crimson sand. When nudists aren’t working on getting rid of their swimsuit lines, they’re swimming in the marine cave, exploring the nearby ancient ruins and sipping coffee at the beach’s open bar.

Es Trenc, Majorca, Spain

At the southern end of Majorca, this beach is pure fantasy: soft talcum-white sand, clear turquoise sea and a happening bar scene packed with beautiful people showing off their beautiful bits. It can get crowded in the summer, so get there early and stake a prime spot for people watching (behind your shades, of course).

Wreck Beach, Vancouver

Even the “No Fun City” lets its guard down every once in a while. When the weather’s nice, Wreck’s is swarmed by free spirits, beach vendors selling booze-infused popsicles and tie-dye shirts, students from the nearby University of British Columbia and sun-deprived locals hankering for a good skinny-dip. The stretch is famous for a super-laid-back ethos, which means you might just encounter a geriatric woman lighting up with a college kid. Or, perhaps, taking a Jello shot. Yolo!

Spiaggia di Guvano, Corniglia, Italy

Spiaggia di Guvano makes you work for the eye candy. There’s only one way to get to this isolated, pebbly beach in Cinque Terre: a pitch black tunnel that runs through a craggy mountain. What awaits on the other side is a tourist-free paradise of romantic caves, naked Italians and the gorgeous Ligurian Sea.

Little Beach, Maui

Tropical nude beaches are surprisingly rare, but Little Beach more than makes up for the small sample size with its show-stopping position on a bay in southwestern Maui. (Technically, clothing-optional beaches are illegal here, but the authorities look the other way.) The time to go is sunset, when drum circles form and fire dancers perform under the pink Hawaiian sky.

Cap d’Agde, France

Cap d’Agde, a sunny resort town on the Mediterranean, has earned the moniker “Naked City.” It lives up to its nickname and then some, with a five km beach packed with German and French travelers hanging out au naturel. But it doesn’t stop where the sand ends: Everything here is done sans clothes, from shopping to eating lunch. But leave the camera at home: The first rule of Naked City is do not snap pictures in Naked City.

Pamela Parisi is an Editor at The Hotel Specialist. She gets to call sunny Taormina home, but has lived in 4 other countries and most recently returned from a stint in Sicily. When she isn't working or traveling, Pamela can be found practicing yoga, enjoying a glass of Cabernet, or playing ukulele to one of her dogs.